Stapling machine



R. H. VAN SAUN ET AL ST'APLING MACHINE 7 Filed June 15, 1940 June 1,1943.

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R. H. VAN SAUN ETAL STAPLING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet2 JP. H K171 fiazaz,

June 1, 1943.

R. H. VAN SAUN ET AL STAPLING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1940 7 Sheets-Sheet3 June 1, 1943.

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, the body Patented June 1, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

Q A s'rrirtifi frficmnn I A I 7 Raymond H. Container Van Saun, Chicago,Ill., assignor to H Corporation of America, Chicago,

The present invention relates to stap chines and, more particularly, toa form of stapling machine capable of securing a flat disc 010- sureelement in both top and bottom of a tubular container.

One object of the present invention is to combine stapling mechanismwith a tiltable, rotary support for a tubular container to enable thecontainer to be placed on the support while in one position and thenbrought to operative relation with the stapling mechanism in whichlatter position thecontainer can be rotated to bring successive portionsof the closure element of the 7 container into staple receivingposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simple andeflicient'form of clamping device for rotary supports adapted to retaina tubular container in proper relation to a stapling mechanism.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide an improved staplingmechanism including a rotary support adapted to retain a tubular container in proper stapling position, the rotary support being controlledto rotate" with a step-bystep movement in synchronism with the operationof the stapling mechanism, the rotary'support being further adapted tobe tilted to enable the container to be moved into and out of operativeposition with respect to 'the stapling mechanism.

Another object of theinvention is to provide container supporting meansto retain a container in proper relation to stapling mechanism, thesupporting means being adjustable for accommodating varying sizes ofdrums, both as to height and diameter.

Another object of-the invention is to provide a stapling mechanism,including a rotary table for supporting containers in proper staplingposition,

in which the table is power driven and is pro vided with means forautomatically stopping the rotation of the table after the proper numberof staples has been inserted.

Another object of th invention is to provide a stapling mechanism'forcontainers in the form view,

'ing a container as it In the drawings:

chine constructed in accordance with the present invention illustratingthe machine supportpp ars'in to have a flat closure element or closuredisc stapled in one end thereof;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary ,vert'ical sectional view, taken substantiallyalongline 2-2 of Fig. 1, illustrating details of the rotary supportingtable for the container;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional taken along line 3-3 ofFig. 2, illustrating constructional details of the rotary table;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional detail view, taken along line H ofFig. 3, illustrating the container clamping elements;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view, taken on line 5-5 of 4,illustrating the pin and cam slot arrangementfor the container clampingelements;

Fig. 6 is a taken along device for properly positioning a container on 4ing the position of various controllingparts when the supporting tableis in container stapling po sition;

' Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, illustrating the position ofvarious control parts when the supporting table is in tilted position;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Figs. 8 and 9, illustrating the controlparts as they appear upon engagement of the clutch elements to initiateactuof cylindrical drums having extending tabs on the drums adapted tobe there being means provided in conjunction with the stapling mechanismfor automatically folding the tabs on of the drum into engagement withthe closure disc'just prior to the insertion of staples. Other objectsand advantages of the present invention will become apparent as thedescription proceeds. Q g

ation of the staple driving mechanism and rotation of the supportingtable;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary front elevational view, illustrating theindicating means for determining the position of the container withrespect to the staple driving mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 11, illustrating a different positionof the container with respect to the staple driving mechanism;

Fig. 13 is a view showing various separated parts of one form ofcontainer upon which the stapling machine of the present inventionv isadapted to operate:

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a container posisertion of one closuredisc;

position ready illustrat- Fig. is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 14,illustrating the container positioned in the same device after theclosure disc at the opposite end of the container has been inserted in apreliminary manner; and

Fig. 16 is a somewhat schematic view illustrating the position andarrangement of the parts of the stapling machine and rotary table when acontainer, having its top closure disc previously inserted, is ready tohave the bottom closure disc stapled in place.

The present invention, as herein disclosed, is embodied in a staplingmachine having a staple driving head mounted in a horizontal armprojecting from an upright frame, the lower part or base of the frame,including container supporting elements, arranged to present a containerto be stapled in proper position with respect to the blank arranged tooverlap the closure element and receive staples driven through both thetabs and the closure.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the frame of the staplingmachine, indicated as a whole at I, preferably comprises a horizontalbase portion 2, an upright portion 3 and a horizontally extending arm 4.The arm 4 carries a staple driving head 5. A container supporting table,indicated as a whole at 6, is carried on a suitable supporting device 1mounted on the base portion 2. A staple clinching element or postindicated at 8 is suitably mounted on the supporting device 1,preferably independently of the container supporting table.

The container to be stapled, indicated at 9, preferably comprises atubular body blank III of sheet material such as fibre board, a closureII of similar sheet material is arranged to be secured in properrelation to the body portion II) by means of tabs I2, I2 which, whenfolded over flat against the closure, are stapled thereto.

As illustrated in Figs. 13, 15 and 16, the closure II is preferably abottom closure and a closure indicated at I3 is employed as a topclosure, this closure having an opening I4 therein to accommodate thestaple clinching post 8 as will be presently more fully described. Theclosure I3 is preferably secured to the body member III by stapling theclosure to foldable tabs I5, I5 similar to tabs I2, I2.

The stapling head 5, as herein disclosed, may be of conventional formand is preferably of the type wherein a roll of flat wire is fed to asuitable cutting and forming device for bringing the wire to staple formjust prior to its being driven into the parts to be'secured together.For the purpose of driving the mechanism in the head 5, a shaft I8 issuitably mounted in the horizontal arm 4. This shaft is driven by apulley I9 mounted on a stub shaft provided wih a clutch element 2|enabling the shafts I8 and 20 to be connected or disconnected at will.The pulley I9 is suitably connected to a source of power (not shown)such the purpose of moving the element ,24 to cause clutch engagement,there is provided a bell crank lever having one end engageable with theelement 24 and the other end connected with the upper end of a rod 26which is connected at its lower end to a lever 21 pivoted at 28 on thebase portion 2 of the'frame. The lever 21 is provided with a spring 28urging it toward counterclockwise movement as viewed in Fig. 1. For thepurpose of disengaging the clutch and controlling other parts of thestapling machine, a foot lever 32 is provided. This foot lever isconnected through mechanism to be presently described to causecounterclockwise movement of the lever 21 which causes the clutch partsto be engaged through intervention of the mechanism above described.

The clutch 2| comprises separable parts 22 and 23, the part 23 being thedriving and the part 22 being the driven part. When the element 24 ismoved to the left, as illustrated in Fig. l, the parts 22 and 23 will bebrought into engagement so as to cause the rotation of the shaft I8 withthe shaft 20 and the mechanism of the stapling head 5 is so constructedas to cause the insertion of astalile for each revolution of the shaftI8. When the lever 21 is moved into clutch disengaging position thecontrol element 24 will move toward the right, as shown in Fig. 1,causing disengagement of the clutch parts and cause stoppage of the part22 fixed on the shaft I8 at a fixed point by] y, nism will be caused tooperate through one or more exact cycles during the time betweenengagement and disengagement of the clutch elements and the stapleinserting cycle will always start at exactly the same point.

A type of clutch suitable for this purpose is illustrated in the patentsto Maynard No. 1,495,342, dated May 27, 1924, and No. 1,802,822, datedApril 28, 1931.

The container supporting table 6 is supported upon the lower part of thestaple clinching post 8 by construction presently to be described. Thelowermost part of the post 8 is arranged to be clamped within the jawportion 33 of an arm 34 forming part of the supporting device 1. Theinner end of arm 34'is fixed to a rocker element 35 supported on a rod36 having its ends mounted I in bearing elements 31 bolted to the baseportion 2 of the stapling machine frame I. By reason of the mounting ofthe rocker element the supporting device 1 for the table 6 is arrangedto be tilted so that the clinching post 8 can be moved from its fullline position, indicated in Fig. 1 to the dotted line position shown inthis figure.

For the purpose of limiting the swinging movement of the clinching postancl supporting table in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1,there is provided an adjustablestop element, which, in the presentinstance, is in the form of a machine screw 40 threaded into theextension H on the bearing element 31 and arranged to beheld in adjustedposition by means of a lock nut 42. An extension on the rocker element35 is arranged to contact the head of the machine screw 40 and when thisextension has contacted the machine screw the rocker element 35. islimited from further movement in this direction.

The means for limiting the swinging of the rocker element toward theleft, as viewed in Fig. 1, will now be described. An arm 45, see Figs.

' 2, 8, 9 and 10, is freely mounted at its upper end on the rod 36 andis provided with an end portion carrying a roller 46 mounted on a' pin48a secured in the end of arm 45. The roller 49 is receivable into anopen jaw portion formed by parts 41 and 49 on an arm 49. keyed on a rod59, and having its ends supported in suitable bearings, not shown,formed in the base portion 2 of the stapling machine frame.

A set screw 52, threaded into an extension 53 on the rocker element 35,is arranged so that its inner end will bear on the arm 45. Adjustment ofthe set screw will change the relative arrangement of the arm 45 androcker element 95 to different angular positions. Thus, the forwardposition of the clinching post 9, as illustrated in I broken lines inFig. 1. may be suitably varied according to the desires of the operator.

When the supporting table and clinching post are in a forward, tiltedposition, as shown in Fig. 9, and as suggested by the broken lines as tothe position of the post 9 in Fig. 1, these parts can be moved to theirrearward or stapling position by downward pressure upon the foot lever32. For this purpose, the end of foot lever 32 is preferably secured ina rocker a set screw 55, the rocker element being secured on the end ofthe rod 59 by means of a pin 59 passing through the rod and rockerelement. Thus, when the endof the foot lever 32 is depressed, as itappears in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, it will cause the rod 59to turn in a counterclockwise direction and causea consequentcounterclockwise movement of the arm 49. As the arm 49 moves downwardfrom the positionshown in Fig. 9, to that shown in .Fig. 10, the innersurface of the portion 49 on the arm 49 will I have, due to itsvconfiguration, a camming action on the roller 46 mounted in the lowerend ofthe arm 45. This forces the arm 45 toward the left, as viewed inFig. 10, and the pressure of the front edge of the arm against the setscrew 52 causes the rocker element 35 to move in a clockwise diingmovement a the supporting table s, there is provided a counterbalancemeans, indicated generally at 91, whichis arranged to urge .the table ina swinging movement to'the right, as viewed in Fig. 1. In the presentinstance there is provided a counterbalance arm 59 ivoted at 69 on theupright portion 9 of thestapling machine frame. A counterweight 19 isprovided which may be supported in any one of several positions on thearm 99 by securing it, as by means of a bolt 1|, in a selected-one ofseveral bolt openings 12', rocker element 1 by a link 13 having one endpivoted at 14' to the rocker element 1 and the other end pivoted at 15to the arm 99 at a point above and somewhat spaced from the pivotalconnection 59 of the arm 99 with the stapling ma- 'chine frame.

Means are provided for locking the foot lever 92 I table 9 will assumethe position illustrated in Fig.

element 54 by means of rection until the extension 43 strikes the headof machine screw 49. See particularly Figs. 1, 8 and 10.

Means are preferably provided for locking the rocker element 35 when ithas reached the end of its clockwise movement, as illustrated in Fig.10. For this purpose, an arm 51 is mounted to rock freely on rod 59.This arm 51 has a detent portion 59 formed at its outer end which dropsdown into engagement with the pin 49a upon which the roller 49 ismounted in the lower end of arm 45. Downward swinging movement of arm 51is limited by a projecting lug 59 on the arm 49 so that if the arm 49 ismoving upward it will cause a release of the arm 51 from its engagementwith the pin 49a.

Another effect produced by downward pressure' is to cause the extended Iupon the foot lever 32 portion 99 of the arm 49 to contact the adjacentend of clutch control lever 21, thus causing --engagement of the clutchparts 22 and 29. The point at which locking of the lever 21 is initiatedmay be suitably varied by means of a set screw 9| and lock nut 92provided in the extended portion 99 of the arm 49.

The lever 21 is prefarbly arranged so as to be automatically locked inits clutch actuating position. For this purpose a bell crank lever 94 isrockably mounted on the base frame and is formed with a latch portion 95at its lower end adapted to engage beneath the tapered end 99 of thelever 21. The means for mounting and controlling the bell crank lever 94will presently be described.

For the purpose of facilitating rearward swingof the rod 19. Thus,

1 and the clutch elements 22 and 23 will bean-engaged relation. For thispurpose there is provided a rod 19 (see Fig. 2) movable endwise inguides 19, 19, carried by a frame element 99 suitably bolted to thebearing element 31 which supports the rod 39 for the rocker element. Therod 19 is provided with a collar 9| against which the end of a coilspring 92 is arranged to press, this spring having its other end abuttedagainst the guide 19 so as to constantly urge the rod 19 toward theright, as viewed in Fig. 2. I

For the purpose of providing for suitable engagement between the rod 19and the foot lever 32 there is provided, in the present instance, anupstanding pin 93,on the foot lever 32 in such position that the pinengages a flattened surface portion 94 formed on the rod 19. Thus, asviewed in Fig. 2, when the flattened portion 94 of the rod 19 is hearingagainst the upper end of the pin 99, the foot lever 32' will be heldagainst upward movement.

In order to release the foot lever for upward movement there isprovideda foot pedal 99 pivoted at 91 on the frame 99 and having a bellcrank portion 89.provided with a slotted end 99 engageable with a pin bydepressing the pedal 99, the bell crank lever 99 will be caused tofswingtoward the left. as viewed in Fig. 2 and will retract the rod 19 so thatthis rod will no longer bear on the pin 99.

Means are provided for bringing the foot lever to its uppermost positionwhen it has been released by the mechanism just described. For thispurpose a coil spr 'g 92 is provided having one end secured to a sttionary point on the stapling machine frame, this being, in the presentinstance, illustrated asa pin 99 positioned on the bearing 31, the otherend of the spring being secured to the arm 49' within a suitable openingformed in a lug 94 provided on the arm.

The arrangement of the parts 49 and' 51 and lug 59 is such that, whenthe rod 19 is retracted.

the spring 92 will tend to lift the arm 49. carrying with it the arm 51due to the position of the lug 59 and will raise the detent portion 59of the arm 51 from its engagement with the pin 49::

thus freeing the arm 45 for movement in a direction. as viewed in Figs.9,

12. The arm 99 is connected with the 99 projecting from the end 4 by thebroken line position of the clinching post 8 in the same figure. Due tothe arrangement of the counterbalance mechanism 67 the table will swingoutward as the counterbalance tends to exert somewhat less than thenecessary degree of leverage to hold it in rearward position.

It is also to be noted that when the table 6 has been brought to itsforward or inclined position, as illustrated in Fig. 9, the roller 46will have moved entirely into the jaw opening provided between parts 41and 48 in the free end of arm 49,

and the detent member 51 will have its end rest ing upon pin 46a.Previous to the initial tilting of the table the detent 65 will havebeen removed from its engagement with the latch end 66 of the lever 21by mechanism presently to be described.

The container supporting table and means for adjustment for differentsizes of containers, for different diameters of containers, and fordifferent height-s of containers, as well as means for causing rotationof table, will-now be described.

In the present instance the entire container supporting table is carriedon the lower portion of The rotary part of the table which is directlysupported on the hub element I comprises a lower ring IM and an upperring I02 held together by machine screws I03, I03, there being, however,an annular space provided between the rings IOI and I02 arranged toreceive a retaining ring I04 held to the hub element I00 by countersunkhead screws I05, I05 which pass through the hub element I00 and throughsuitable openings I06 in the flanged collar element 99 and being securedto the element 99 by nuts on the end of the bolt I05. The'openings I06which receive the bolts I05 are preferably elongated as illustrated inFig. '7 for the purpose of moving the hub element I00 toward or from theupright frame element 3 of the stapling machine so as to adapt the tablefor containers of difierent crosssectional sizes or diameters.

The ring member I02 has an upwardly extending hub portion I08 aroundwhich an annular plate I09 is positioned for limited rotary oroscillating movement, the plate I09 resting on the ring member I02. Onthe upper surface of the hub element I08 and resting closely above theplate I09 is a base plate IIO upon the upper surface of which thecontainer 9 is adapted to rest,

preferably arranged-in four groups, each group comprising an exteriorand interior clamp element. For the purpose of controlling the positionof the clamps the base plate H0 is formed with four pairs of slots; twopairs of which are indicated at H6, II6a and III, IIL-a, another slotbeing indicated at.II8 and another-at M9.

The slots are preferably arranged on each side of and parallel to aradial line passing through the center of the hub element I02 andthrough the central portion of the respective pairs of clamps H2 and H3.

As shown in Fig. 4 the clamp element I I2 preferably comprises an angleelement of segmental shape on the lower flange of which is secured apair of blocks I20, I fitted into the slots 6, Ba, III, I I'Ia, etc. Forthe purpose of retaining the block elements I20, I20 within the slotsH6. 1., etc., the circular base plate II 0 is provided with machined-outportions indicated at I2I in Fig.5 into which the flange pieces I22, I22on the block portions I20 are adapted to be received.

The inner clamp elements II3, I I3 are likewise in the form of angleelements of segmental shape. the lower flange of which is supplied withblock elements I25, I25 having laterally extending flange pieces I28,I26 received within the machined-out portions I2I, I2I of the base plateI I0. See Figs. 4 and 5.

For the purpose of positively moving the clamp elements H2 and H3 towardand from each other, suitably shaped cam elements in the form of slotsformed in the rotary plate I09 are provided. As illustrated in Fig. 3,the slots I28, I28

are provided to control the outer clamp elements H2 and the slots I29,I29 are provided for controlling the inner clamp elements I I3.

As illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 the clamping elements II2 are providedwith suitably threaded openings for the reception of the threaded endsof machine screws I3I, I3I having their lower ends fitted with rollerelements I32, I32 which are'retained on the ends of machine screws bymeans ofohead or flange portions I33, I33. The roller elements I32 arereceived in the cam slot I28 in the plate I09.

In like manner, the interior clamps II3 are provided with threadedopenings to receive machine screws I35, I35 having rollers I36 at theirwill be forced in opposite directions.

ends and retained on the machine screws by means of head or flangeelements I-3I. The rollers I36 are arranged to be received in the camslots I29 on the plate I09. By particular reference to Fig. 3, it can beseen that when the plate I09 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction,the

roller on the clamps II2 will be forced toward the outside of plate I09and the rollers on clamp II3 will be forced toward the central portionof plate I09. In other words, the two sets of clamps Thiscounter-clockwise movement of the plate I09 will cause an opening of theclamps and reversely a clockwise movement of the plate I09 will causethe respective groups of clamps to approach each other to clamp thelower end of the body of the container 9 as illustrated in Fig. 2

Yielding lining elements I38 and I39 are provided respectively upon theclamps H2, H3 to efiect necessary gripping of the lower edges of thecontainer walls and to compensate for any slight,

inaccuracy of the machining of the parts 01 plates I09 and H0 and theclamps H2 and H3.

It is to be noted that the cam slots I28 and I29 are so shaped at theirends as to be slightly eccentric to the axis of rotation of plate I I0so that the final portion of movement of the plate I09 will tend tocause a more or less firm clamping effect upon the container 9 clampedtherein. The cam slots I29, I29 are formed the same shape as the camslots I28 at the end of slot corresponding to the clamping position soas to produce a relatively flrm clamping efiect upon'the inner clamps.

The outer ends of I09 there is provided a handle so that when resting oneach of the slots I28 and I29 are likewise made I with the center ofrotation of the plate IIO although this particular curvature as to theopen position of the clamps is not entirely necessary.

For convenience in moving the clamping plate I42 bolted to the edge ofthe plate as seen in; Fi 3.

Due to the removability of the clamps H2, H3 from the plate IIO it isapparent that larger or smaller diameter clamps may be provided and usedso as to accomodate larger or smaller diameters of containers.

As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 16 the inner clamps II3 are formed of sucha height as to permit a container with the lower closure secured therein(in this case the final top closure) to be placed the upper edges of theclamps II3 the upwardly directed flanges I2, I2 of th 'container will bebrought into proper position in respect to the stapling head. In thispcto 'be substantially concentric I ment with the cams. Adjacent theopen end of sition of the container the outer clamps only will functionto hold the container in fixed relation to the plate I III of thesupporting table 6. In the event a diiferent size of tab I2 is employedit will. of course,be necessary to select. a different height of clampH3.

While it is within the scope of this invention to rotate the table 6 byhand, it is preferable to provide means for rotating the table in astep-bystep manner and to coordinate the step-by-step rotation with theoperation of the stapling head so that the table will rotate one stepand then come to a stop upon which one staple will be inserted in adown-turned tab I2 or !5, as the case may be, after which the table willthen be rotated one more step to bring another tab into staplingposition and so on until all ofthe tabs have been stapled.

- For the purpose of providing step-by-step rotation of the table thereis provided a series of suitably placed pins I43, I43 projectingdownwardly from the under face of the ring element I0 I. The number ofthese pins I43 corresponds to the number of tabs I2 and I5 on thecontainer to be staple. A rotary cam element I44 is provided forengagement with pins I43. This cam element is mounted on a shaft I45supported in beari s I46, -I46 projecting from the hub element I 0 whichis mounted on shaft 5 has a projecting part I41 having a jaw portion I49in which a block I49 is mounted on a laterally extending pin for aslight rocking movement. An element I50 similar to the part I41 isconnected to the block I49 by means of a pin which also provides for aslight rocking move- I ment. This element I50 is connected to a shaftI5I. It is to be noted that the parts I41, I40, I49 and I50 form auniversal joint connecting the shafts I5I and I45. As shown in Fig. l,the shaft I5I is keyed I52 which, in tum, is connected through asuitable universal joint I53 to a short shaft I54 provided with asprocket I55 over which a suitable chain I56 is arranged which will passover a sprocket I51 of the same size on the driven shaft 29 connectedwith driven pulley I9. It will now be seen that, through the mechanismjust described,'the cam I44 will be driven in coordination with thestapling mechanism.

The earn an is supplied with suitably shaped cam guide elements I58, I59engaging one on each side of the pins I43, I43. The members I55, I59terminate at each end in an open portion so that pins I43 will pass intoand out of engagethe flanged collar 91. The

the cam I58, I59 the shape of the camsis spiral I so that it will rotatethe table due to movement of the cams relative to the pins I43, I43 atthe beginning and the end of engagement of these pins with the camguides. Intermediate the open ends of cam guides as seen in Fig. 7 thereis a dwell portion provided which tends to hold the rotating tablestationary dwell portion is passing a given pin I43. The dwell providedby the dwell portion of the cam I56, I56 is just suflicient to enablethe stapling mechanism to pass through the staple driving portion of thestapling cycle and, just after the stable has been driven in andclinched, the spiral portion of the cams will again cause movement ofthe table to bring a succeeding tab into a stapling position.

The .provision of the universal joints on the shafts I5I. I52 allow forinner and outer swinging movements of the container supporting tablewithout requiring disconnection of thecam element from the table drivingmechanism. This construction also accommodates the vertical adjustmentof the supporting table.

For the purpose of properly positioning a 'container to staple the firstclosure in position there is provided on the table I III an upstandingwedgeshaped positioning or guiding member I59 which is arranged to fitwithin one of the notches between adjacent tabs IZ, I2. The positioningI member I59 is. provided with suitably downwardly projecting boltsarranged to be received within spaced slots I60, I60 in the baseplateIIII so that the member I59 may be disposed in different positionscircumferentially of the plate to insure the positioning of the tabs I5,I5 in proper position with respect to the staple driving mechtotelescope within a hollow shaft anism. In one position of the member I59the staple may be arranged to be inserted centrally of the tabs I5, I5and, in another position of the member I59 the staples may be arrangedto be inserted so as to bridge over thespace between adjacent tabs I5, I5.

As the member I59is adapted to function only when projecting tabs arepresent at the lower portion of the container, other means are prefer--ably provided for indicating when the container is properly positionedafter the top closure element I4 has been stapled in position and thecontainer has been inverted preparatory to'stapling the bottom closureII in place as illustrated in' ing elongated apertures I04 through whichsecuring bolt I55 are arranged to pass. The additional purpose of theplate I63 will presently be explained. Fig. 11 illustrates the positionof the tabs I5, I5 when it is desired to insert staples so as to bridgethe space between the tabs, and Fig. 12 Illustrates the position of thecontainer in which staples will be inserted centrally of the tabs.

After the container 9 has been clamped in position on the rotary table,as above described, the table having first been moved from its forwardto its rearward position. as illustrated in Fig. 1, the table is readyto be set in rotation, the stapling mechanism being at the same timeactuated so that, as the table rotates with a stepi-by-stepmotion. astaple will be inserted at each stop in the during the time that the"table movement.

When the table has completed one revolution and a staple has been driveninto each tab it is desirable to cause the mechanism to stopautomatically. For this purpose a trip element I68 is secured at asuitable point on the under side of the table I89 (see Fig. 2). vThistrip element I88 is arranged to actuate automatic stop mechanism whichwill now be described.

An arm I69 (see Figs. 2 and 7) is provided with a clamping portion I19.by which the arm may be secured in varying angular positions around thehorizontal position of the table, the tabs immediately beneath thespirally curved portion I81 will be engaged and turned downwardlydepending upon the positions of the tabs withrespect to the portion I81(see Fig. l) The horizontal portion of the plate I86 indicated at I88retains the tab in downfolded position over the closure disc II or I3,as the case may be. This horizontal the lower end of the clinching post'8. The outer I end of the arm I69 has suitable guide portions I'll andI12 thereon having suitable openings through which is received aslidable rod I18 having a roller I14 at its upper end arranged tocontact the trip element I68. The rod I19 is preferably hollow and has athreaded portion at its lower end into which a threaded stem I15 isadapted to be received and held in fixed adjusted position by a lock nutI16. A trip lever I11 is rockably mounted at I18 on the upper end of therocker element 85 and has its forward end connected with the threadedstem I15 by means of a block I19 carried on the end of the'lever I11providin opening I8I for reception of the end of a link I82 which hasits lower end connected through one arm of the bell crank lever 64 (seeFigs. 1, 8 and herein indicated as a projecting portion of a pin Theother endof the lever I11 is provided with a suitable Also connected atI8I to the lever I11 is a I84 upon which the bell crank lever 84 ismounted. The spring I89 is held under tension so that the forward end ofthe lever I11 will be urged to swingupwardly, as viewed in Figs. 2 and8. Due to the provision of the mechanism just described, after the tablehas made one revolution, and the trip element I68 on'the underside ofthe table has moved into position where it will engage and depress theroller I14 on the rod I18, this rod will be forced downwardly at itsforward end, causing upward movement of the link I82 and consequentswinging of the bell crank lever 64-to remove its detent end from theend of lever 21 and allowing this lever to move in a direction to dis-.engage the clutch parts 22 and 23. thus effecting instant stoppage ofthe driving means for the stapling mechanism and the rotary table. Thecontrol'elements are thus brought to an inoperative position so thatmanual intervention will be required to again set the rotary table andstapling mechanism into operation.

The tabs for attaching the closure elements to the body blank of thecontainer are preferably moved from upright to downturned position justprior to bringing the tabs into operative position portion I88 isprovided with a suitable opening large enough to admit the passage ofstaples into the tabs without interference with the stapling mechanismbut not so large as to permit the tabs to become displaced.

The manner of attachment of the plate I63 to the frame of the staplingmachine enables the horizontal portion of the extension I86 to belowered or raised toward or away from the top of the container wherebythe pressure under which the tabs are held against the closure discs ofthe container may be suitably varied. When it is desired to adjust theposition of the horizontal plate portion I88 it is only necessary toloosen the bolts I65 then raise or lower the plate as permitted by theelongated apertures I64, then tighten the bolts against the plate.

When it is desired to adapt the table for different diameters ofcontainers, this is done by removing the clamping elements H2, H3 andreplacing them with similar clamping elements having a radius conformingto the radius of the containers which it is desired to staple. Assumingthat it is desired to staple containers of larger radius than indicatedin Fig. 1, it is apparent that the rotary axis of the table must bemoved toa somewhat greater distance from a vertical line passing downthrough the stapling head. For this purpose the bolts I85 which connectthe hub element IIIII to the flanged element 99 are loosened and the hubelement is moved rearwardly or to the left, as viewed in Fig. 1. 'Thisis possible by reason of the fact that the bolts I05 are received inslots I86. See Figs. 2 and I.

Movement of the tablein the manner just described has the effect ofdisplacing the trip element I68 with ,respect to the arm I69. whichsupports the trip mechanism for effecting a stoppageof the rotary table.It is thus necessary to loosen the clamping jaws I18 and turn the arm toa new angular position in which the roller I 14 will be contacted by theadvancing bevel edge of the trip I68, as illustrated in Fig. 1. For thispurpose, the rod I15 is formed of material which will permit a slightbending so that it will not be necessary to change the point ofattachment (III with respect to the staple driving mechanism.

For this purpose the plate I83 carries a suitably shaped extension I88having a spirally curved of the rod I15 to the lever I11 which,otherwise, can be done.

When it is desired to adjust the rotary table for different heights ofcontainers, this may be done by raising or lowering the flanged element99 along the staple clinching post 8. For this purpose, the set screw 98is loosened and the flanged element moved up or down along the stapleclinching post to the desired position after which the set-screw 98 isagain tightened. The jaw portion I19 of the arm I69 is also preferablyrepositioned so that it will engage the lower portion of the flangedelement 99 in which position it will serve as additional supportingmeans for the table.

To summarize the operation of the device, let it be assumed that thetable 6 is In forward, tilted position as illustrated in Fig. 9 and assuggested by the broken line position of the stapling anvil post 8 inFig. l. A container 9, with an apertured treadle 96 which withdraws2,320,684 top closure disc I3 assembled therewith, in a.

preliminary manner as illustrated in Fig. 14, and with both sets of tabsI2 and I5 extending in alignment with the body blank of thecontainer,

is placed on the table in position so that the edges of the tabs I2, I2will rest on the upper surface of the table. (See Fig. 2.) The clampingmembers H2 and 3 will then be actuated by moving the handle I42 in aclockwise direction, as illustrated in Fig. 3, to firmly clamp the endof the container on the table. The table is now ready to be moved tohorizontal position. This is done by exerting downward pressure on thefoot lever 92and continuing the movement until the lever is locked inits intermediate position' by means of the sliding rod 18. See Figs. 1,2 and 8.

In placing th container on the table,care is exercised on the part ofthe operator to have the positioning member I59 properly positioned sothat when this member is received in between two tabs at the lower endof the container, the tabs at the upper end will be properly positionedwith respect to the staplingmechanism. When the container has been movedto the position indicated in Fig. 1, several tabs will be engaged by theplate portions I81 and I89 'so that one tab will be bent entirely overready to be stapled and adjacent tabs will be folded over at varyingangles depending upon their positions with respectto the curved plateportion WI.

The operator next will depress the foot lever to its lowermost positionas illustrated in Fig. 10. This will cause the lever 21 to be swung toclutchactuating position wherein the driving mechanisms for rotating thetable and for inserting the staples'will be actuated.

- The arrangement is such that a staple will be driven into the firsttab while the cam mechanism which drives the table is moving through thedwell portion of its cycle and, as soon as the staple has been driven,the table will be moved forward one step to bring an adjacent tab intostapling position beneath the horizontal portion I98 of the partI8'I,-whe'reupon the tab is stapled and the alternate step by stepmovement of the table and the insertion of staples will continue until astaple has been driven into each tab,

.after which the driving mechanism will be disconnected by reason of thetrip element I88 striking the roller I14 and causing the separation ofthe clutch parts as previously described.

After the upper closure disc l3 has been secured in place and themachine has come to a stop, as just described, the table 6 is releasedfor rearward tilting movement by depressing the the rod I9 allowing footlever 32 to be pulled upwardly by the spring 92, causing disengagementof the detent 51 from the arm 45 and releasing 8 to that indicated inFig. 9. The container is then removed from the table after releasing theclamps and lifting it off of the clinching post 8.

. The next step is to insert the bottom closure disc II in preliminaryposition substantially in alignment with the bases of the tabs I2, I2and next replace the container on the table by passing the top closureend, having the apertured closure I3 secured therein, down over theclinching post 8. In this position the lower end of, the container willnot rest upon the surface of the table but will be supported on theupper edges of I the clamping member H3, H3 as previously dethe table sothat it will swing from the position illustrated in Figs. 1 and to drawthe clamp II2 inwardly to engage the exterior of the container. Beforestapling is begun the operator will see that the tabs are proper- 1yaligned with the indicating arrow I62, see Figs. 11 and 12.

With the container clamped in proper position, it is then only necessaryto move the-table to horizontal position, bringing the container intooperative stapling position and then continue by actuating the clutchcontrol elements by further downward movement on the foot lever 32, aspreviously described, which will cause the stapling of the final closuredisc to be completed withthe operation stopping, as previouslyexplained, after the final staple has been inserted. The container canthen be removed by tiltin the table rearwardly, releasing the clamp, andlifting the container off of the clinching post 8.

The closure discs may be assembled with the containers in any suitablemanner. One convenient arrangement for facilitating the insertion of theclosure discs into the containers preparatory to stapling the attachingtabs to the discs is illustrated in Figs. 14 and 15. As illustrated inFig. 14 there is provided a suitable base block I around which isdisposed a collar element I9I having a straight portion I92 and a flaredportion I93, the straight portion being separated from the edges of thebase block a distance somewhat greater than the thickness of thematerial of the container. By the use of this construction thecontainer, being in the form of. a collapsed cylindrical drum, asillustrated in Fig. 13, may be expanded and inserted within the collarelement I9I until the tabs I5 come to rest against the shoulders of thebase block. It is to be noted that the distance between the uppersurface of the base block and the shoulders is equal to or slightlygreater than the length of the tabs. After the container is in place itis preferred to first insert the top closure'disc I3. This is done bydropping the disc down through the open end of the container andpressing it with a tamping tool I94 having a handle portion I95 hingedlyconnected to an elongated head portion I96. when the disc is properlyforced into place the tamping tool is removed and the container is-readyto have the top closure disc stapled in position.

After the top closure disc has been secured in place, the container isready to receive the bottom-closure disc. This may conveniently be doneby first inserting the disc in the open end of the container, theninserting the tabs I2, I2 into the channel between the base block andthe collar I9 I. The tamping device I94 is then inserted through theopening in the top closure disc I9 and for this purpose the tamping headI96 is made narrow enough to pass through the aperture in this disc.After the-disc closure forming position as previously described.

If it is desired to provide a supplemental closure for the aperture inthe closure disc I3, this may be accomplished by providing a disc I91having tabs I98 receivable into slots I99 formed in the closure disc.See Fig. 13. i

It is apparent from the foregoing that the present invention provides astapling machine with ancillary apparatus enabling cylindrical drums tobe set up from collapsed condition with closure discs in place andthereafter stapled in a durable and eillcient container. Containers socon- II- is in place, the tamping device is removed and the disc II willbe stapled in structed are found to be quite advantageous in thepackaging of raw materials, such as asphalt, rosin, waxes andsimilarproducts adapted to be packaged in a molten condition.

Due to the construction of the stapling machine and the controltherefor, drums, such as described, may be quickly assembled and madeready for the reception of .merchandise to be packed therein with aminimum of time and eflort and without requiring operators who areparticularly skilled. I

While the present'description sets forth a preferred embodiment of theinvention, numerous changeslmay be made in the constructionwitharranged, when folded down, to overlap the flat closure element;said stapling mechanism comprising a rotary table adapted to support atubular container, a staple driving mechanism, a staple clinching anvil,means for clamping the container to the rotary table, and means forrotating the table and the container clamped thereto in a step-by-stepmanner whereby rotation of the table will cause successive edge portionsof the container and closure element to be presented to the staplingmechanism, and means operativev upon movement of the container to movethe tabs on the tubular body from valigned position with the tubularbody wall into flatwise engagement with the closure element to presentsuccessive portions thereof to the stapling mechanism.

2. A staplingmechanism adapted for use with tubular containers havingoverlapping closure foming parts closing the open ends of the container;said stapling mechanism comprising, in combination, a rotary table,means for securing a tubular container to said table, said table havingan open portion at its axis of rotation, a base element vrotatablysupporting the table, means for rotating said table and the supportedcontainer with reference to the base element, a staple driving head, astaple clinching anvil comprising a post supported on the base elementand projecting upwardlythrough the open portion at the rotary axis ofthe table, said clinching anvil post having its upperportion ofiset toposition the clinching anvil away from the center of the container andadjacent the outer portions thereof.

3. A stapling mechanism for tubular containers comprising a rotary,horizontal table, means for securing a tubular. container to the table,a base element rotatably supporting said table, the table ing the tabledriving means inoperative as the table support and clinching anvil postare moved to the inoperative position, in which the clinching anvil'isseparated from the staple driving mechanism. I

4. A stapling machine for tubular containers having flat closureelements adapted to be secured to a tubular body blankprovided with tabparts extending from the-body, blank and arranged, when folded down, tooverlap the flat closure element, the stapling mechanism comprisingstaple driving means, a staple clinching anvil, means for supporting acontainer in operative relation to the staple clinching anvil, means forrotating the container supporting means to bring successive portions ofa container into operative relation with the staple driving mecha--nisin and clinching anvil, means for moving the clinching anvil andcontainer supporting means to a position in'which the container on thecontainer supporting means will be maintained out of operatverelation'to the staple driving mechanism, and means for automaticallyrendering the container'rotating means inoperative as the clinchinganvil and container supporting means are moved to such inoperativeposition.

5. A stapling mechanism for tubular containers having overlappingclosure forming parts for closing the open ends of a container, saidstapling mechanism comprising, in combination, astaple drivingmechanism, a clinching anvil, means for supporting a container forrotation. to bring'successive portions thereof into operative relationwith the staple driving mechanism and clinching anvil, means forrotating the container supporting means in step-by-step relation, meansfor driving staples when the container supporting means is stationarybetween periods of movement, and means for automatically disconnectingthe operation of the container rotating means and actuation of thestaple driving mechanism after the container has been rotated through apredetermined angular distance.

6. A stapling mechanism adapted to secure closure discs in the ends ofcylindrical drums having attaching tabs at the open ends thereof, saidmechanism comprising a rotary table for supporting a cylindrical drumfor movement 4 about an axis concentric with its cylindrical having anopen part adjacent its rotary axis, a

surface, means for rotating said table, means for clamping the drum tothe table, a staple driving mechanism located in a position offset fromthe axis of rotation of a cylindrical drum on the drum supportingtable,. a clinching anvil post extending centrally through the table andhaving a clinching anvil surface disposed in operative relation to thestaple driving mechanism, said clinching anvil post being arranged toaccommodate a cylindrical drum placed in encompassing relation to thepost, the portion of the post remote" from its clinching anvil surfacebeing offset from such surface so that the offset portion of thepostwill be disposed substantially concentrically of the cylindricalsurface of a drum to be stapled.

7. A stapling mechanism comprising, in combination, staple drivingmeans, a rotary table for supporting a cylindrical container having flatclosure discs adapted to be secured to the walls of the container byattaching flaps overlapping the closure disc, means for rotating saidtable, a clinching anvil post having an anvil surface disposed inoperative position with. respect to the staple driving mechanism, meansassociated with the table for clamping a container thereon, the

' comprising staple ing anvil, a rotary ing the table clamping meanscomprising cooperative gripping shoes adapted to engage the containerwalls, whereby rotation of the table will present to the staple drivingmechanism successive portions of the closure of a container clamped onthe table.

8. A stapling mechanism tainers having fiat closure elements adapted tobe secured to a cylindrical body blank provided with a plurality of tabsextending from the body blank and arranged, when folded down, to overlapthe closure element, the stapling mechanism driving means, a stapleclinchtable adapted to support the cylindrical container on an open endto present the other end in proper relation to the staple drivingmechanism, means for securing the container to the table, driving meansfor rotatin step-by-step relation, means for so synchronizing thedriving of staples that a staple is driven into a tab when the table isstationary between periods of movement, and

for cylindrical conmeans disposed on the table for engagement betweentwo adjacent tabs on the lower end of the container for insuring properpositioning of the tabs with respect to the staple driving mechanism atthe upped end of the container. 7

9. A stapling mechanism for tubular containers having overlappingclosure-forming parts adapted to close an open end of each of saidcontwainers, said stapling mechanism comprising, in combination,

clinching anvil, means for gripping one of said a staple-drivingmechanism, a-

containers and rotating the same in a step-b3- step manner to bringsuccessive portions thereof into operative relation with saidstaple-driving mechanism and clinching anvil, means for so synchronizingsaid staple-driving mechanism and said container rotating means thatstaples are driven only when said container is stationary betweenperiods of movement, means for retaining said staple-drivingmechanism'and rotating means in operation while a plurality of staplesare driven, and means for automatically rendering said retaining meansinoperative'when said container has been rotated through apredeterminedangle. Y

10. A mechanism for stapling tubular containers having flat closureelements adapted to be secured to a tubular body blank provided with tabparts extending from the body blank and arranged, when folded down, tooverlap the flat closure element; said stapling mechanism comprising arotary table adapted to support a tubular container, means for'clampinga container to said table to rotate therewith, a staple drivingmechanism, a staple clinching anvil; means for rotating the table in astep-by-step manner to bring successive portions of the container intooperative relation to the staple driving mechanism and the clinchinganvil, and means for so synchronizing the table rotating means and saidstapling mechanism that staples are drivenonly when the container isstationary between periods of movement.

RAYMOND H. VAN SATIN.-

- v CERTIFICATE OFYCORREG'JQION. Patent no. 2,520,6ah. June 1, 191.5.

I Y RAYMOND H. VAN smm.

Itis hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction as follows: In the heading to the drawings,Sheets]. to 7 inclusive, name ofinventor, for "R. H. VAN SAUN, EI' AL"read--R. H. VAN SA page 2, first column, line 65, for "wih" read-with--; page 5, first coluinn, line 14.6, for "staple" read "stapledandsecond column, line 15, for "stable" read --stap1e--; page a, firstcolumn, line n5, claim 2, for"'fotiing" .read --forming--; page 9, firstcolumn, line 27, claim 8', for "upped" read --upper--; line 50-51, claim9, for "contwainers" read --'containers-; and that the said LettersPatent should be 'read with this.

correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the .Patent Office. I

Signed and sealed this 27th day 'or'Jul A. D. 1910,

, Henry Van Arsdale, Acting Commissioner of Patents.

